Ranked among the greatest trial lawyers of his era, Rufus Choate (1799-1859) was also an active participant in American politics. His brilliant legal mind and flamboyant oratorical skills helped him win numerous high-profile courtroom battles. As a U.S. representative and senator, Choate opposed sectional extremists and fought for preservation of the Union.

A colorful, somewhat eccentric figure, Rufus Choate earned his greatest renown in the courtrooms of his native Massachusetts. For over 30 years, he dazzled juries with his emotional, yet carefully-reasoned rhetoric, winning victories in some of the most celebrated criminal cases of his day. He combined a scholar's diligence with an actor's feel for drama and audience psychology. An early supporter of the Whig Party, Choate entered public life in the 1820s and went on to serve in both the U.S. House and Senate. Towards the end of his life, he became a forceful advocate...